Utah Gov. Cox orders child care fraud review following Minnesota allegations

Photo: Photo by BBC Creative

Utah — Gov. Spencer Cox has ordered a comprehensive review of Utah’s child care assistance program safeguards after allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded daycare system sparked national concern.

Cox addressed the issue on social media following comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who cited an independent journalist’s investigation claiming millions in taxpayer dollars were improperly paid to Minnesota daycare centers, according to KUTV.

“Fraud is unacceptable. Accountability matters,” Cox wrote, adding that “Utah’s GRIT operating principles mean zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or abuse,” KUTV reported.

The governor emphasized that Utah’s system includes multiple protective measures not allegedly present in Minnesota’s program. According to KUTV, Cox noted that child care providers in Utah are regulated, eligibility is verified, benefits are limited to citizens and legal residents, payments go directly to providers, attendance is electronically tracked, and agencies conduct in-person monitoring and regular audits.

“We’ve initiated a full review to confirm these safeguards are working as intended,” Cox said, according to KUTV. “Stewardship of taxpayer dollars is fundamental to good government.”

🚨 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable

We ALL… pic.twitter.com/E3Penx2o7a

— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) December 26, 2025

The controversy stems from a viral video posted by independent journalist Nick Shirley, a 2020 Farmington High School graduate, showing him visiting multiple Minnesota daycare locations. KUTV reported that Shirley’s video featured the “Quality Learning Center” in South Minneapolis, which he claims received approximately $4 million in state funding despite appearing inactive.

In the video, Shirley claimed his team uncovered more than $110 million in suspected fraud in a single day while documenting daycare locations across Minnesota, KUTV reported. The claims have not been independently verified.

Speaker Johnson called the reporting “jaw-dropping” and announced that the House Oversight Committee has expanded its investigation, according to KUTV. Republicans are demanding records and interviews from Minnesota officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and federal agencies.

Minnesota officials have not responded publicly to the specific claims highlighted in the video, KUTV reported.

Cox stressed that Utah’s review is proactive rather than responsive to any known local fraud. The governor did not provide a timeline for completing the review, according to KUTV.